Event participants prepare to compete in the Wings For Life World Run in Santa Clarita, California, USA on March 08, 2016 / Garth Milan for Wings for Life World Run.

Santa Clarita, Calif. -The Wings for Life World Run has announced its return to the City of Santa Clarita for the fourth consecutive year, as participants everywhere unite to find a cure for spinal cord injury. Of 24 locations worldwide, Santa Clarita will be the only West Coast city in the United States to host the global race on Sunday, May 7, 2017. Santa Clarita joins Sunrise, Florida as the only two United States cities to host this event.

“This is such a fun and exciting event for our City to host year after year. It’s very surreal to be awake before the sun comes up and running on streets we normally drive on,” said Mayor Bob Kellar. “You don’t need to be an excellent runner to participate in this event, so I encourage all members of the community to take part and support this inspiring and unique experience in our hometown.”

Unlike traditional races, the Wings for Life World Run has no set distance or finish line. Instead, competitors will begin racing at Westfield Valencia Town Center simultaneously with participants around the world while trying to avoid being stopped by an advancing “Catcher Car.” The “Catcher Car” is an innovative moving finish line that takes off 30 minutes after the start at every race location and steadily increases its speed until it passes all of the participants.

Santa Clarita residents can receive the $30 registration by signing up before January 1, 2017 on WingsForLifeWorldRun.com. For more information about Santa Clarita’s involvement in the Wings for Life World Run, please contact Evan Thomason, Santa Clarita Economic Development Associate, at (661) 286-4167 or ethomason@santa-clarita.com.